Postdoctoral Researcher in Molecular Ecology and Bioinformatics for GorBEEa Project

About the Position

The Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) is offering a full-time postdoctoral researcher position to support the research activities of Research Line (RL) 3 on Terrestrial Ecosystems, specifically for the GorBEEa project. This position is funded by the European Commission through an ERC Consolidator grant.

About the Project

GorBEEa, led by Dr. Ainhoa Magrach, aims to understand the drivers of functional stability at different levels of organization and the feedback loops that enable biodiversity to be maintained. The project combines multiple disciplines, including theoretical network developments, predictive models, experimental approaches, and empirical observations. It uses plant and pollinator communities and their interactions as a model system, requiring strong bioinformatics expertise.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of bioinformatic pipelines for the processing of metabarcoding and genomic data
• Perform quality control, taxonomic assignment, and downstream ecological analysis of DNA and RNA sequence data
• Integrate molecular data with ecological network analyses to investigate drivers of stability in plant and pollinator communities
• Collaborate in field data collection
• Write and co-author scientific manuscripts
• Present results at national and international conferences

Requirements

• PhD or equivalent in Biology, Bioinformatics, Environmental Sciences, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience in bioinformatic analysis, including the processing of metabarcoding or amplicon sequencing data (e.g., DADA2, QIIME2, OBITools, or similar pipelines)
• Proficiency in at least one scripting or programming language commonly used in bioinformatics (e.g., R, Python, Bash)
• Previous laboratory experience in DNA extraction, PCR, and library preparation
• Keen interest in plant and pollinator communities and molecular ecology
• Motivation, curiosity, creativity, and strong ability for problem-solving through critical analytical thinking
• Ability to work with a high degree of independence
• Good communication skills, fluency in English, sense of teamwork, and commitment to high-quality research
• Driver’s license and previous experience driving a four-wheel drive vehicle
• The position may require international travel on an as-needed basis

Nice to Have

• Experience with ecological network analysis
• Familiarity with high-performance computing (HPC) environments
• Previous experience working on plant-pollinator or similar community ecology projects
• Fluency in Basque or Spanish

Term of Contract

The position will be for a period of 18 months, with an envisaged starting date of 1st October, 2026.

Salary

The gross annual salary for this position is €31,500.00.

Location

Basque Centre for Climate Change, Leioa, Spain.

We Offer

As an HR Excellence-awarded institution, BC3 is committed to reconciling research and academic requirements with family responsibilities. BC3 is particularly concerned with creating equal opportunities for people regardless of sex and gender.

Application Procedure

Fill the form below and upload ONE PDF document with the following information:

• CV: 2-page
• Motivation Letter: One-page
• Contact Details: Two referees

Informal enquiries can be made to Prof Ainhoa Magrach noting in the subject of the message “Postdoctoral research position in Molecular Ecology and Bioinformatics”.

Contact Ainhoa Magrach at [email protected]

Deadline: 30 July, 2026, 3:00pm CEST

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This project has received funding from the European Union Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement Nº 101086771.